News From ProAct

State license review reveals quality

Four ProAct  programs were successfully reviewed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recently,  renewing the organization’s license to provide day training and habilitation, and supported employment services.  

ProAct emerged with few problems, thanks in part to its extensive participation in the CARF accreditation (Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission) program.  Rigorous quality review standards by the national organization helped lay a groundwork for state reviewers for their examination.

In essence, CARF accreditation allowed the reviewer to go less in depth and cover areas not specifically examined by CARF, said Red Wing Program Director Sally Ogren.  It had been some time since the last review, a fact that was probably due to state budget cuts.  The new license is for two years.

In the time since the Eagan facility’s last state level review, there have been many rule changes, according to Eagan’s program director, Carolyn Dobis.  “Some were substantial, some were minute.”

Knowing that CARF standards had been met, DHS examined 146 additional areas, randomly checking ProAct’s files.  They found some minor process changes that had to be made, such as wording changes and dates to be added.

DHS interviewed three participants in Eagan and no staff members.  Dobis said they were impressed with the programs, and ProAct’s ample postings around the facility making rules and regulations and phone numbers readily available.  Dobis described the reviewer as both gracious and professional.

Golfing smiles

The annual ProAct Golf Classic, built on three decades of fantastic golf and dining experiences: 

When:     August 18th

Where:    Hastings Country Club

Who:       ProAct supporters, friends and families, area businesses

What:      18 holes of golf with cart, contests and giveaways at each hole, dinner, live and silent auctions and team photo.  

Cost:       $140

Register:        Call 651-289-3170

                          Ditschler engages on state level

In heading a significant nonprofit organization, it is vital to stay abreast of shifting attitudes and trends in the community.  This is particularly important when human service issues, such as  training and employment services, are involved.  

That’s part of the reason Steven Ditschler, ProAct’s president and chief executive officer, is active in a number of civic and professional organizations.  It also gives him an opportunity to represent the needs and interests of ProAct.  

Ditschler serves on the State Rehabilitation Council, having been appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty in June 2004.  The Council gives advice to, and works in partnership with, the state vocational rehabilitation program.  His participation enables him to present the perspective of a service provider, while gaining the perspectives of other constituencies.    

For several years Ditschler has served on the Dakota County Workforce Investment Board, whose 23 members, the majority of whom are from the business community, are appointed by the Dakota County Commissioners.  The mission of the board is to provide comprehensive, professional and timely services for jobseekers and employers.  Serving with such a group broadens his perspective on the needs of employers and employees, while keeping him informed of trends that impact ProAct.  

Serving with a group of county government staff members, health and employee services professionals and private company owners and managers, Ditschler learns about new developments in the field and how ProAct might be impacted.  

In addition, Ditschler serves on the board of the Minnesota Nonprofit Employers Workers Compensation Fund, is an active member of the Minnesota Association of Community Rehabilitation Organizations (MACRO), and a member of the Greater Twin Cities United Way’s Council of Agency Executives.  He also continues to serve on the board of CCI, a nonprofit provider of residential services for people with disabilities.  Through all of these involvements, Ditschler becomes a better interpreter of trends, and an articulate voice on issues of concern.

Manufacturer relies on ProAct team

The stick-on skin electrical devices are used all over the world by chiropractors and physical therapists to relieve muscle pain.  And, they’re put together by ProAct people in Lake City.

The gadgets are called tens units, with 50 different styles, many of them assembled by the thousands at Pepin Manufacturing, Inc. (PMI) in Lake City.  Here a crew of up to 14 ProAct individuals sometimes numbers as high as half the work force at the small company.

The young business was started about a decade ago by Jeff Solberg, who once served on ProAct’s board of directors.  

Using workers from ProAct has allowed the company to have a great deal of staffing flexibility based on the work orders that come in, according to Daniel Denn, plant manager.

Spread around tables in the plant’s common area, workers carefully place the tiny electrode units on top of various topical materials that look much like Band-Aid straps.  Others place different items in bags for shipment as supervisors from ProAct help keep an accurate count of what’s moving through the system.

“The business has been increasing, but we will have ebbs and flows,” Denn said.  That’s the beauty of the arrangement, he explains, as PMI can call a dozen people in from ProAct on one day and no one on the next.  “We pride ourselves in that we can ship a lot of our orders on the same day or next day,” he explained.

Repetitive jobs that may be less desirable to PMI employees are actually enjoyed by ProAct people, according to Denn.

Another product made here are the lint rollers used mostly at dry cleaning businesses, those masking tape-like layered inventions that remove lint, dog hair and other undesirable fluff from clothes.  Denn said PMI supplies the rollers for 70 percent of the dry cleaning market.  Incidentally, the plastic roller handles are put together off site by ProAct people in Red Wing and Zumbrota.  PMI products are shipped worldwide to places as far away as Australia.  

With PMI, locals recognize Pepin as the name of the major lake in Lake City where water-skiing was invented.  Denn said Solberg chose it because the facility is just two blocks from that body of water, which has become a major summertime attraction along Highway 61.

Meetings foster Communication and Support

The TEAM meeting is a special time when a person with disabilities meets with concerned professionals and family members to discuss the quality of home and work life. 

“Generally speaking, the goal is to live in the least restricted setting and to have as much community interaction as the person can handle,” said Sandy Andrews, Dakota County social worker.  

The TEAM meeting is “person centered,” and caters to the desires of the participant, from choosing the location to having an important say in the group discussion.  At one meeting, support and direction come from ProAct Program Specialist Katie Swenson, residential staff, social workers, behavior analysts, family members and others chosen by the participant.  Typically TEAM meetings are held 45 days after a person joins ProAct, then every six months or annually, and if there’s an emergency. 

Achievements and challenges are reviewed, solutions are offered, appropriate goals are set and required forms are signed.  For the two licensed programs in Eagan, a yearly risk management discussion includes many topics, including finances, medicines, community interaction and safety.  Specific day by day actions are reviewed, such as the appropriateness of giving over the counter medicines, permission to be photographed, the length of unsupervised time and the appropriate staff-to-client ratio. 

Swenson presents the person’s productivity, hourly pay, check amounts and the accumulated vacation days.  

Work goals are an important part of the TEAM discussion.  “How is your work coming?  What are you doing?  Would you like to continue with that job?” are among the probing questions.  

Andrews values ProAct’s variety of work activities, both in-center and in the community, and the wide range of ongoing classes.  Such variety makes it possible to find appropriate work or social situations that fit the various stages of an individual’s work history.   

There are seldom surprises, due to the regular communication between all parties when emotional or physical issues surface.  All are fully aware of the clients past work challenges, current work productivity and social relationships that give some expectations for future work. 

To promote appropriate socializing, the group might turn to ProAct’s long list of class offerings.  

In one TEAM meeting observed, Sue Crilly, a residential social worker, had known the individual for over 15 years and was very familiar with her likes and dislikes.  Crilly suggested outdoor activities, such as hiking and fishing, and identified an all-day garage sale outing as a real winner.  Plans were made on the spot to set up a cash account for the participant at ProAct to ensure the spending money would be on hand. 

As new activity plans are made, Crilly offers a reminder that it is the participant’s choice, provides encouragement to try something new and gives permission to quit “if it does not work.”  Andrews points out that many folks are concrete thinkers and need to see or experience a new activity before they fully understand if they will like the activity or setting.

“It is nice when we all get together on the same page, working toward the same goal,” said Swenson.  Responsible for 27 individuals, she holds as many as seven scheduled meetings monthly for which she organizes the required paperwork and follows through on TEAM decisions.